The Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Yakubu Salihu, says the ongoing construction of the 130-kilometer Bode Saadu-Kaiama-Kosubosu road will enhance business opportunities between Kwara and neighbouring states upon completion.
Salihu described the N350 billion road project as a major breakthrough for the people of Kwara North, who have been yearning for a road that would link the five local government areas in the senatorial district.
The Speaker, who was inspecting the road on Sunday with some stakeholders, also commended former President Muhammadu Buhari, President Bola Tinubu, and Gov. Abdul Rahman AbdulRazaq for facilitating the project through tax credit.
The road project, at the instance of the Federal Government through BUA Group of Companies, is being funded under the Tax Credit Scheme in Executive Order 7, which former President Buhari issued while in office.
Speaking after touring the project, the speaker explained that before now, the tax credit was alien to Kwara, stressing that it was Gov. AbdulRazaq who lobbied the Federal Government to get the road awarded to BUA Group.
“In Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, we have a governor who means well for his people and goes all out to improve their living standards. But for his efforts, Kwara State would not have benefited from the tax credit initiative.
“So, on behalf of the stakeholders from the Kwara North Senatorial District, especially our traditional, community, religious, and political leaders, we are grateful to the President and the Governor,” Salihu said.
He said that farmers from Kwara North, which is reputed to be the food basket of the state, have been having difficulties transporting their farm produce to urban areas on account of a poor road network.
“The road, when completed, will, among other benefits, serve as a unifying factor for the five local government areas in the northern part of the state.
“These are Baruten, Edu, Moro, Kaiama, and Patigi, and it will ensure the transportation of goods and services, especially agricultural farm produce, to other parts of the state and across the country as a whole.
“This will also ensure that our farm produce gets to the market on time and ultimately crashes soaring food prices,” the Speaker said.
Former Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Matthew Okedare, and two members of the Assembly, Abdullahi Danbaba (Kaiama, Kemanji, Wajibe Constituency) and Madinat AbdulRaheem (Lanwa/Ejidongari Constituency), also spoke during the tour.
They spoke on the economic benefit of the roads and applauded President Tinubu and Gov. AbdulRazaq for the infrastructural development.
Also speaking, a Kwara North stakeholder, Mohammed Alhassan, said the project is an unprecedented development in the history of the senatorial district, attributing the feat to the ‘diplomatic efforts’ of Gov. AbdulRazaq.
Alhassan said, “I must be honest, this is the best thing that has ever happened to our senatorial district since the creation of Kwara State. This senatorial district has suffered neglect, but we believe that everything will improve with time.
“AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq taking this bold step is a timely one and a decision in the right direction. This has given and shown us a sense of belonging.
“It will ease our mobility and promote economic activities because, if you look at it, the axis of Kaiama-Baruten is border towns, and we have a lot of agricultural produce that needs to be transported to urban centers.”.
He added that the road construction would also ensure the security of passengers, as it would save them the hassle of having to travel through bush paths in Oyo State to connect the Baruten-Kaiama axis.
Alhassan commended Governor AbdulRazaq’s diplomatic actions, which, he said, made the project possible.
When completed, the road project will link Bode Saadu-Kaiama-Kosubosu; Bacita-Shonga-Lafiagi; Eiyenkorin-Afon-Offa-Odo-Otin; and Okuta-Bukuro Road, as well as the Republic of Benin.
